Adjustable truck wrench support

ABSTRACT

A stand for supporting the shaft of a lug wrench so that relatively high forces may be imposed on wheel nuts without twisting the wrench off the nuts includes a pair of telescoping tubular members having a cradle for the wrench at one free end and a foldable base at its other free end. A pin projecting from the telescoped end of one of the members engages a longitudinal slot in the other member so as to adjust the effective length of the support. The foldable base consists of a pair of plates with bent edges, each having a set of ears pivotably mounted to the tubular member forming the lower end of the support. In use, the base plates extend laterally in opposite directions from the support. A wire bale affixed to one of the plates engages a projection on the side of the support to maintain it in position and an edge surface of the other plate abuts the opposite side of the support to maintain that plate in extended position. One of the plates has a cut-away section which allows the other plate to fold therein so that both plates may lie against the same side of tubular member when folded.

[ ADJUSTABLE TRUCK WRENCH SUPPORT Donald M. Rolm, 16823 Huntington, Detroit, Mich. 48129 [22] Filed: May 18, 1971 [21] App1.No.: 144,480

[76] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl. ..8l/180 R [51] Int. Cl. ..B2Sb 13/58 [58] Field of Search ..81/18O R; 248/351,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 949,638 2/1949 France ..24S/354 P 878,547 6/1953 Germany ..248/407 876,190 5/1953 Germany ..248/354 P Primary Examiner-James L. Jones, Jr. Attorney-McGlynn, Reising, Milton & Ethington et al.

[5 7 ABSTRACT A stand for-supporting the shaft of a lug wrench so that relatively high forces may be imposed on wheel nuts without twisting the wrench off the nuts includes a pair of telescoping tubular members having a cradle for the wrench at one free end and a foldable base at its other free end. A pin projecting from the telescoped end of one of the members engages a longitudinal slot in the other member so as to adjust the effective length of the support. The foldable base consists of a pair of plates with bent edges, each having a set of cars pivotably mounted to the tubular member forming the lower end of the support. In use, the base plates extend laterally in opposite directions from the support. A wire bale affixed to one of the plates engages a projection on the side of the support to maintain it in position and an edge surface of the other plate abuts the opposite side of the support to maintain that plate in extended position. One of the plates has a cut-away section which allows the other plate to fold therein so that both plates may lie against the same side of tubular member when folded.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patente d May 1, 1973 3,730,027

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2 Sheets -Sheet z I u f hiHiiLlL. 16 3 [A V EN TOR ATTORNEY ADJUSTABLE TRUCK WRENCH SUPPORT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a vertically adjustable support having a foldable base adapted to be supported on the ground at one end and a cradle for receiving the shaft of a lug wrench at the other end and more particularly to such a support which is simple in construction and may be folded into a compact configuration.

2. Prior Art A lug wrench for use with wheel nuts in automotive vehicles must include a shaft of sufficient length to allow a handle attached to one end to swing free and clear of all projections on the vehicle when the nut engaging section at the other end of the wrench is disposed about a wheel nut. When a force is imposed on one end of the handle to rotate the nut, a force is also applied which works through the mechanical advantage of the long shaft to tend to twist the nut off the shaft. To obviate this problem support devices have been previously designed including adjustable vertically aligned members which rest on the ground at their lower ends and have cradles at their upper ends to support a lug wrench shaft. When such a support is used a downward force may be imposed on the wrench handle and that component of the force which tends to twist the wrench off the nut is resisted by the support so that a relatively pure rotational force is applied to the nut. Such supports allow the imposition of substantially higher twisting forces on a lug nut than could otherwise be applied.

Devices of this type have found wide use in garages where wheels must be frequently removed from trucks and other heavy duty vehicles, and as equipment on service trucks which answer emergency calls from road vehicles. However, the awkward size, weight and relatively high cost of the supports heretofore provided has been such as to discourage their use as normal equipment carried with trucks and other heavy duty vehicles in the manner of jacks and lug wrenches. The present invention is addressed to the problem of creating a lug wrench support suitable for use as normal emergency equipment on vehicles because of its simple construc tion and capability of being folded into a configuration which is easily stowed and removed from the tool compartment of vehicles. Moreover, the construction of wrench supports formed in accordance with the present invention is such that they may be very easily and quickly unfolded and refolded and readily adjusted to a desired height.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention broadly contemplates a lug wrench support wherein the vertical extending crutch member consists of a pair of tubes of such cross-section that one may telescope within the other. One telescoping member carries a laterally extending projection at its telescoping end which moves in a longitudinally extending toothed slot formed in the other telescoping member. The extended length of the crutch may be readily adjusted by simply extending the tubes to a desired length and moving the projection into the nearest tooth in the slot. This prevents further collapsing motion of the tubes without an initial extending motion to withdraw the projection from the tooth. Thus the extension and collapsing of the support may be readily accomplished with a single hand by a driver changing the tire of his vehicle.

One of the telescoping members is formed with a generally V-shaped slot at its free end which is adapted to serve as a cradle for the underside of the lug wrench. The free end of the other tubular member has a foldable base attached thereto. The base consists of a pair of generally channeled shaped members. The side walls of these members each extend at one end to form pairs of ears adapted to encompass the sides of the lower end of one of the tubular members and attach thereto by a pin which extends through the tube so as to form a pivotable trunion mount. Flanges formed on the edges of the plates make them resistant to bending forces.

One of the plates has a cut-out formed therein to ac commodate the other plate so that both may lie with their free ends extending upwardly along the tubular member, on the same side thereof, when the unit is in a folded condition. In this configuration the dimensions of the unit are not substantially greater than those of the outer tubular member and one side of the outer tubular member is completely free of projections so that the unit may be easily stored in a tool compartment and removed therefrom without catching on any projecting surfaces.

To extend the base the smaller plate is rotated through 270 degrees about the trunion until it projects normally from the tubular section on the side opposite to the one on which it rests in its folded position. In this attitude the edge of the plate abuts the side of the tube so as to lock the member against further rotation from this position. The other plate member is extended normally to the tube at the other side and retained in position by a wire bale foldably supported on that plate and operative to engage a projection formed on the side of the tubular.

Upon review of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment to the invention, it will be appreciated that the base may be extended from its folded position and the vertical member projected to the desired height in a matter of seconds, without any difficulty by the user. The base may then be readily refolded into a locked position wherein one of the base members engages the projection on the tubular which moves in the toothed slot in order to prevent accidental extension of the tubular member.

The unit is so designed that it may be formed of low cost sheet steel. These features of simple design, simplicity of use, and clean, minimum size, folded configuration make the unit well suited for use as standard emergency equipment with trucks and other vehicles.

Other advantages and objectives of the invention will be made readily apparent by the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the. invention. The description makes reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention used in connection with a lug wrench in removing a nut from a vehicle wheel;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the invention in an extended position illustrating a folded position in phantom lines;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the unit in a folded position;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the unit in folded position taken on line 4-4 of FIG. Q; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the parts forming the preferred embodiment.

Referring to the drawings, the adjustable lug wrench support forming a preferred embodiment of the invention may be broadly viewed as consisting of an adjustable vertical support, clearly indicated at 10, and a foldable base member, generally indicated at 12.

The adjustable support consists of an elongated section of square tubing 14, forming the upper end of the support, and a section of tubing 16 of approximately the same length as the tubing section 14 but of larger cross-section so that the member 14 is capable of telescoping interiorly of the member 16.

The tubing sections 14 and 16 may be formed of steel tubing or may be fabricated from plate or sheet steel stock.

The upper end of the inner section 14 has a V notch formed on two of its opposed sides and a V-shaped steel plate 18 having the same width as the tubing and a slightly greater length, so that it edges project slightly beyond the tubing, is attached thereto as by welding. This plate 18 forms a cradle having a bearing surface for supporting the shaft 20 of a lug wrench, generally indicated at 22.

A pin 24 is supported in the lower end of the inner tubular unit 14, so that its ends project laterally from the opposed side walls of the tubing. The pin may project approximately one-half inch on each side. The lower and outer tubular member 16 has a pair of Iongitudinally aligned slot 26 formed in a pair of its opposed side walls. The slots extend substantially the full length of these side walls terminating a few inches from each end thereof. A plurality of tooth extensions 28 are formed at regular intervals along one edge of each of the slots 26. The projections extend in a generally downward direction, away from the slot and have a configuration which is adapted to receive the ends of the projecting pins 24. The toothed projections 28 are spaced at approximately one inch intervals along the slot.

The ends of the pin 24 project vertically through the slots 26 and the effectively length of the vertical support section 10 is adjusted by moving the tubing sections 14 and 16 relative to one another so that the tooth 28 in which the pin ends rest are changed. Thus, the vertical support may be adjusted between the fully extended position wherein the pins 24 rest in the tooth slots closest to the upper end of the tube 16, and a fully retracted position wherein the pin ends 24 rest in the tooth slot 28 adjacent to the opposite end of the tubing 16. In this latter position the ends of the V plate 18 are at a position close to the top of the outer tube 16. The adjustment may easily be made by one hand by simply lifting the inner tube 14 by its free end and moving it to a new desired position.

The lower end of the outer tubular member 16 carries a pin 30 which projects laterally from a pair of opposed sides of the tubular member and has threaded ends. A large base plate member generally indicated at 32 and a small base plate member generally indicated at 34 are both attached to the vertical section 10 by means of the pin 30.

The smaller base member 34 is formed of sheet steel bent into a generally channel section and includes a flat web section 36 having a pair of flanged sections 38 extending normally from its elongated sides. The flanged sections project beyond the web section at one end thereof to form a pair of ears 40 each of which has a hole 42 formed therein. The spacing between the interior sides of the ears is approximately the same as the outer dimensions of the lower tube section 16 and the ears straddle the section with the pin ends passing through the holes 42 in the ears. The flanges 38 have a width approximately equal to the width of the tubing section 16. The base section 34 may move between a folded position wherein the inner side of the web 36 lies against a surface of the tube 16 and the flanges 38 straddle the contiguous sides of the tube 16, and an unfolded position wherein the base section 34 is rotated through 270 about the pin 30 and projects normally from the opposite side of the tube 16.

In this unfolded position an edge 44 of the web 36 adjacent to the ears 40, abuts the side of the tube 60 to limit the motion of the base section 34 relative to the tube 16 and the flanges 38 rest on the supporting surface.

The base section 34 has a pair of slots 46 formed in the free edges of the flanges 38 which engage the projecting ends of the pin 24 when the tubing section 14 is fully retracted within the tubing section 16 and the base 34 is then moved into a folded position. This prevents the tubing section 14 from being accidentally withdrawn from the section 16 while the unit is in its folded position.

The larger base section 32 is also formed of plate steel bent into a channel section, and consists of a web 50 having a pair of normally extending flanges 52 and 54 formed from its edges. The flanges 52 and 54 terminate in a pair of cars 56 and 58, respectively, which extend parallel to one another and are separated by a sufficient distance to allow them to straddle the outer sides of the ears 40 formed on the base member 34. The ears 56 and 58 have a pair of holes 60 formed therein which through which the ends of thepin 30 pass. A pair of nuts 64 are threaded on the ends of the pin 30 so as to press the two pairs of ears against the sides of the tubing 16 with sufficient pressure as to create a friction fit between the ears and of the tubing.

The flange 52 angles away from the ear 56 so that its end opposite the ears is substantially wider than the spacing between the ears, and accordingly the flange 52 has a projection in a direction transverse to the extension of the base and the tube 16. When the base is extended this section projects away from the wheel and provides three point stability to the unit. The base section 32 has a cutaway 62 formed therein one edge of which is formed by a portion of the flange 54. This cutaway is of suitable shape to allow the base section 34 to pass therethrough. Thereby the base section 34 may be moved between the folded condition, wherein it surrounds a portion of the tube 16 and an extended position wherein the web 50 lies on the supporting surface and the flanges 52 and 54 project upwardly.

A wire bale 66 has one of its free ends fixed in a hole 68 formed in the flange 54, and its other free end attached to an ear 70 formed upwardly from the web 50 at the perimeter of the cutaway 62. The bale is thus supported so that it may be folded into proximity with the inner side of the web 50, or may extend so that its looped end engages a tab 72 bent out of the adjacent side wall of the tube 16. A cutout 74 in the surface of the web 36 allows the base member 34 to fold flat against the side of the tube 16. In that position the bale extends at an inclined angle and acts to rigidly maintain the base member 32 in its extended position projecting normally to the tubing 16.

When the unit is in its folded position the inner tube 14 is fully retracted within the outer tube 16; the base section 34 is rotated so that it projects along the three sides of the tube section 16, the slots 46 engage the pin 24 and retain the inner tubular section and the base section 32 overlies the same side of the tubing 16. In this position the side of the tubing 16 opposite to that which engages the base is perfectly clear and the unit may be slid into and out of a tool storage area on that free side without engaging any projections on other tools. 7

The unit may be easily and quickly folded into and out of operating position and provides a highly stable support for a wrench 22 used to remove nuts from a wheel 80.

While the two piece base 12 disclosed is highly effective, low in cost, and simple to use, an alternative construction employing only a single base member might be constructed within the broad teachings of the present invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An adjustable height support stand including an elongated member, a support member disposed on said elongated member so as to be adjustable to various extensions relative to one end of the elongated member, bearing means on one end of said support member for receiving and cradling a rotatable wrench shaft, and a generally planar base member attached to said one end of said elongated member and being movable between a first, folded, position wherein it lies with its planar surface in parallel abutment to the side surface of the elongated member, and a second open position wherein it projects normally from said elongated member so as to form a base adapted to rest on a horizontal surface and support said elongated member in a vertical attitude, said base member comprising a pair of parts each pivotally mounted to the same point on the elongated member and supported for motion in a plane which includes the elongated member, both of said parts being adapted to be folded between one position wherein they overlie and abut the same side of the elongated member and another position wherein they extend normal to the elongated member on opposite sides thereof.

2. The stand of claim 1 wherein the elongated member includes an outer section of rectangular crosssection and at least one of said base member sections is channel shaped in cross-section and has such dimensions as to be adapted to overlie said channel section on three sides thereof when in a folded position.

3. The stand of claim 1 wherein the elongated member consists of a pair of members, rectangular in cross section, with one of the members telescoping within the other, and the base member consists of a pair of channel-shaped parts both trunion mounted to the free end of the outer tubular member so as to be supported for motion in a plane including the elongated member and adapted to be disposed in said first, folded position wherein the two base member parts overlie one another and are disposed in abutment to'three surfaces of the outer tubular member and said second, open position wherein the base member parts extend normally to the elongated member in opposed directions, from opposite sides of the elongated member.

4. The stand of claim 3 wherein the two base member parts are so shaped that one may move between the other and the elongated member when said one is moved from its folded to its open position.

5. A support stand, comprising: an elongated member including a tubular outer section and an inner section configured to telescope within said outer section; adjustment means extending between said inner section and said outer section and adapted to retain the two fixed relative to one another in any of a plurality of relative positions whereby the length of the elongated member may be adjusted; bearing means formed at one end of the adjustable member; and base means affixed to the opposite end of the elongated member, said base means including a first planar member having an inner configuration complementary to the outer configuration of the end of the elongated member to which it is attached, a second planar member having an inner configuration complimentary to the outer configuration of the end of the elongated member to which it is attached, the first and planar second members being pivotably connected to said elongated member so as to allow motion in a plane including said elongated member to allow said base members to be disposable in either a folded position wherein their planar surfaces abut the adjacent outer surface of the elongated member, and an extended position wherein they both project normally from the elongated member in opposed directions.

6. The stand of claim 5 where one of said base members has a pair of ears positioned on opposite sides of the elongated member and a cutout formed between the ears and adapted to pass the other base member therethrough when the other base member is moved between its folded and open positions. 

1. An adjustable height support stand including an elongated member, a support member disposed on said elongated member so as to be adjustable to various extensions relative to one end of the elongated member, bearing means on one end of said support member for receiving and cradling a rotatable wrench shaft, and a generally planar base member attached to said one end of said elongated member and being movable between a first, folded, position wherein it lies with its planar surface in parallel abutment to the side surface of the elongated member, and a second open position wherein it projects normally from said elongated member so as to form a base adapted to rest on a horizontal surface and support said elongated member in a vertical attitude, said base member comprising a pair of parts each pivotally mounted to the same point on the elongated member and supported for motion in a plane which includes the elongated member, both of said parts being adapted to be folded between one position wherein they overlie and abut the same side of the elongated member and another position wherein they extend normal to the elongated member on opposite sides thereof.
 2. The stand of claim 1 wherein the elongated member includes an outer section of rectangular cross-section and at least one of said base member sections is channel shaped in cross-section and has such dimensions as to be adapted to overlie said channel section on three sides thereof when in a folded position.
 3. The stand of claim 1 wherein the elongated member consists of a pair of members, rectangular in cross section, with one of the members telescoping within the other, and the base member consists of a pair of channel-shaped parts both trunion mounted to the free end of the outer tubular member so as to be supported for motion in a plane including the elongated member and adapted to be disposed in said first, folded position wherein the two base member parts overlie one another and are disposed in abutment to three surfaces of the outer tubular member and said second, open position wherein the base member parts extend normally to the elongated member in opposed directions, from opposite sides of the elongated member.
 4. The stand of claim 3 wherein the two base member parts are so shaped that one may move between the other and the elongated member when said one is moved from its folded to its open position.
 5. A support stand, comprising: an elongated member including a tubular outer section and an inner section configured to telescope within said outer section; adjustment means extending between said inner section and said outer section and adapted to retain the two fixed relative to one another in any of a plurality of relative positions whereby the length of the elongated member may be adjusted; bearing means formed at one end of the adjustable member; and base means affixed to the opposite end of the elongated member, said base means including a first planar member having an inner configuration complementary to the outer configuration of the end of the elongated member to which it is attached, a second planar member having an inner configuration complimentary to the outer configuration of the end of the elongated member to which it is attached, the first and planar second members being pivotably connected to said elongated member so as to allow motion in a plane including said elongated member to allow said base members to be disposable in either a folded position wherein their planar surfaces abut the adjacent outer surface of the elongated member, and an extended position wherein they both project normally from the elongated member in opposed directions.
 6. The stand of claim 5 where one of said base members has a pair of ears positioned on opposite sides of the elongated member and a cutout formed between the ears and adapted to pass the other base member therethrough when the other base member is moved between its folded and open positions. 